vocalsonly

Vocalsonly is a term used in music production and audio editing to describe vocal-only content, either as an a cappella-style track or as a derived version from a stereo mix with the instrumental removed. It is commonly used for remixes, karaoke, vocal coaching, and music analysis.

The term is informal and based on the broader practice of separating vocal elements from instrumental tracks. Methods include obtaining official vocal stems from publishers or labels, as well as using source-separation tools powered by artificial intelligence. AI approaches such as neural networks can separate vocals from accompaniment, while traditional subtraction techniques (phase cancellation) are less reliable and often produce artifacts.

Quality varies with factors like vocal center-panning, reverb, and the presence of double-tracking or effects. Clean separation is easier for centered vocals and straightforward mixes; complex production can leave residual instruments or create artificial artifacts.

Applications include remixing, karaoke playback, vocal training, and transcription work. Some artists release stems specifically to enable fan remixes or educational study. Vocalsonly differs from a cappella, which typically refers to live, unaccompanied performance, whereas vocalsonly can be derived from standard commercial releases and may not meet strict a cappella criteria.

See also: a cappella, vocal isolation, stem, karaoke, source separation.